Among the treasures within the walls of the Borghese Gallery is a masterpiece by Antonio Canova called Venus Victrix. The statue is made of white marble, and is surrounded by remarkable treasures of the Borghese.
The statue itself is certainly a masterpiece and Canova is among my favorite sculptors, but there is an historical angle at play also. The model for Venus is none other than Napoleon Bonaparte’s favorite sister, Pauline. Pauline was married to Camillo Borghese from the family of the museum’s namesake.
Detail of the Venus Victrix
Pauline is portrayed as the Romanized version of Aphrodite. She is holding an apple in her hand. The apple connects to the Greek myth, ”The Judgement of Paris” which was a part of the beginning of the Trojan war.
Ceiling of the room that the sculpture is housed in. Painting by Domenico De Angelis, The Judgement of Paris, 1779.
Pauline was originally going to be depicted clothed as Diana, the virginal Greek Goddess of Hunters, but Pauline refused and wished to be presented semi nude as the Goddess of Love.